More hay was baled in 2013 than in the drought of 2012. But quantity doesn’t equal quality. Much of the hay may not contain enough nutrients.

Looking at hay-test reports, Sexten sees that lots of mediocre to bad hay was made this year. Spring rains at haying time delayed baling. Overmature hay has lower feed value.

There are options. Stockpiled pasture is first choice for quality winter feed, but that required action in August when cattle were removed from pastures and nitrogen fertilizer applied. Fall growth is left ungrazed until winter.

Another feed source is cornfield residue. Ear corn dropped at harvest and leaves and upper stalks provide nutrients for the herd. This may require added supplement for best usage.

"In Missouri, cornfields offer our most underused cattle feed," Sexten says. "Grazing stover requires fences and water. But where land was taken out of pasture to plant corn, there may be fences and water available."

Using a hot wire to allocate fresh feed every few days improves efficiency. However, Sexten says it’s important at this point to just get cattle into the cornfields. Cornstalks deteriorate quickly.

For a cow, her first need is body maintenance. "Cloudy days with rain and temperatures near freezing are worse than dry days with temperatures below 20 F," he says. "Cows spend energy to warm their bodies."

Feed should be adding body condition (fat) ahead of calving season. The fat layer must be laid on before the cow starts lactating. After calving, the cow diverts feed into milk for her calf. She can’t gain condition.

Also, good nutrition before calving adds quality to colostrum, the first milk. A well-fed cow adds fat to colostrum, which jump-starts her newborn calf. Also, a well-fed cow adds stronger antibodies to pass on to her calf.

Antibodies ward off calf illness. A sick calf never fully catches up after a slow start.

Testing hay pays in just about all ways, Sexten says. But in a bad-hay year, it pays more. Knowing more about pre-calving nutrition for the calf makes hay tests worth more.

Without a hay test, a nutritionist can’t build a cost-effective ration for winter supplement.